Leveraging AI to Bridge the Gender Gap in Technology

Blog by Elizabeth Peterson, 2024–2026 North Atlantic Region Governor from Soroptimist International of the Americas, Connecticut Shoreline Club at UNCSW69 

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is reshaping the technological landscape, offering unprecedented opportunities for career growth, operational efficiency, and content creation. However, as AI becomes increasingly integrated into our daily lives, it also mirrors and amplifies existing gender inequalities. At the recent workshop ‘Leveraging AI to Bridge the Gender Gap in Technology’, experts explored the challenges and possibilities of AI adoption for women in tech. Led by Mr. Can Drogan, an Associate Professor of Economics at Radford University, the discussion emphasized how AI can serve as a tool for empowerment—if we put the right guardrails in place. 

The Gender Gap in AI Adoption and Leadership While AI is already changing industries, less than 20 per cent of the workforce currently uses AI tools, and women are significantly underrepresented in both AI development and leadership. Only about 15 per cent of tech and AI professionals in executive roles are women, and even fewer women are involved in training AI models. This exclusion has profound consequences, as AI systems learn from historical data that often contain inherent biases, reinforcing gender disparities in hiring, leadership, and career progression. One example of AI-driven bias is in job candidate selection. Case studies have shown that AI algorithms trained on past hiring data often favour male candidates. This highlights the need to create inclusive job descriptions and AI training data that reflect diverse perspectives. Without addressing these biases, AI may continue to disadvantage women in the workforce rather than serve as an equalising force. 

Opportunities for Women in the AI Era Despite these challenges, AI presents a 100 per cent opportunity for women to bridge the gender gap in technology. Unlike traditional tech roles that require specialised computer science degrees, AI is becoming increasingly accessible. Companies are training employees in AI tools rather than relying solely on new graduates with AI-focused degrees. Some panellists even suggested that generative AI tools are easier to master than PowerPoint, making them highly approachable for women looking to upskill. New job opportunities are also emerging as AI reshapes industries. Some anticipated roles include: 

• Data Animators – Specialists who bring AI-generated data to life in visually engaging ways.
• Data Ethicists – Professionals who oversee AI ethics, ensuring fairness and accountability in AI systems.
• AI-Assisted Doulas and Wedding Planners – Personalised service providers using AI to enhance client experiences.
• Homeschooling Organisers – AI-supported educators assisting families with customized learning plans for homeschoolers and unexpected days off from school.
• Storytellers– Storytelling is a human skill that AI cannot replicate with the same depth of empathy and adaptability. This opens up new career possibilities in AI-assisted storytelling, content creation, and knowledge sharing—areas where women can excel.

AI and Digital Inclusion One of AI’s greatest potentials lies in technological democratisation—expanding access to information for marginalised communities. The panel discussed how mobile devices with AI-driven voice recognition will be able support people in their native languages, breaking down barriers to digital literacy and learning a universal language such as English. Innovations such as voice-first search on Chromebooks and AI-integrated smart glasses (like Meta’s Ray-Ban glasses) exemplify how AI can create more inclusive digital experiences. However, to ensure AI serves everyone fairly, we must address bias in data collection. AI models learn from vast datasets, many of which are western-centric and geopolitically skewed. This imbalance influences AI-driven decision-making, from hiring algorithms to content recommendations.  Key ethical questions include: 

• Who is making the dataset?
• Who controls the data?
• Are we allowing our personal data to become part of a massive “data ocean” with no individual control?

 The panellists stressed that AI is not a godlike power—it is simply a machine. While it can optimise tasks and generate insights, human critical thinking must remain central. AI-generated outputs can include “hallucinations” (false yet highly confident statements), which reinforces misinformation if not carefully vetted. 

Actionable Steps: Getting Women Involved in AI The workshop concluded with a powerful call to action: Women must engage in AI policy-making and digital literacy efforts. In Virginia, for example, policymakers are actively shaping AI regulations, and public participation is crucial to ensure these policies reflect diverse interests. Additionally, women’s AI cohorts are forming to help bridge the knowledge gap. These groups provide hands-on training in AI literacy, best practices, and career development. By creating supportive communities for AI learning, women can gain confidence in using AI tools and advocate for their ethical development. Looking Ahead: AI as a Superpower AI is not just a tool—it is a superpower that women can harness to drive meaningful change. Instead of viewing AI as a threat, we should see it as an enabler of opportunity. The key is to identify the right problems to solve rather than just chasing the latest technology trends. The panelists encouraged attendees to: 

• Use AI for brainstorming and problem-solving, refining ideas through iteration.
• Dream big and refuse to accept limitations imposed by societal norms.
• Identify “pain points”—areas of inefficiency or struggle—and explore how AI can help address them.

 AI is already shaping the future, but its impact will depend on who gets involved in shaping it. By embracing AI as a tool for inclusion, advocacy, and career growth, women can ensure they are not just consumers of AI technology—but leaders in its development. The message from the workshop was clear: The future of AI is not predetermined. It is up to us to make sure it works for everyone.